Rail-spice.



Patented Ja.11.14,1913.

Snow r4301 fla /J fl. Zr/kla H. M. ZIRKLB.

RAIL SPLICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.10, 1012.

Wilinwoao HARRY M. ZIRKLE, OF ST. PARIS, OHIO.

RAIL-SPLICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

Application filed September 10, 1912. Serial No. 719,602.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY M. ZIRKLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Paris, in the county of Champaign and State of Ohio,have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail-splices, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in rail joints, theprimary object being to provide a joint for rail ends wherein theemployment of fish plates, bolts or analogous securing devices isdispensed with, and also wherein the ends will be effectively supportedagainst lateral movement.

With the above recited objects in view, and others which will beapparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed, theimprovement resides in the construction, combination and arrangement ofparts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of rail ends connected inaccordance with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a trans verse sectional viewtaken approximately upon the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail viewof one of the rail ends. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the rail splice.

The rails, designated by the numerals l-1 have their heads, as well as aportion of the upper edges of their webs removed for some distance fromtheir ends. The webs, as well as the base flanges are Preferablyreinforced or enlarged at the terminals of their heads, the saidenlargements being provided with flanges 2. The flanges or lips 2conform to the cross sectional shape of the rails, the lower or inclinedmembers of which overlie the extending base flanges of the rail ends,while their vertical portions have their inner faces parallel with therail webs, and are disposed a suitable distance away from the oppositesides of the extending webs 3 of the rail ends. It will thus be notedthat the extending portion of each of the rails and the flanges 2provide pockets, the purpose of which will presently be set forth.

The numeral 4 designates the rail splice. This splice includes a head,base flanges and a connecting web. The Web is enlarged, and is providedwith a longitudinally extending passage 5 which is of a size and shapeto snugly receive therein the ext-ending webs 3 of the rail ends. Theunder faces of the base flanges of the splice are inclined to conformwith the shape of the upper faces of the flanged extensions of the railends. It is, of course, to be understood that the rail ends abut whenthe rails are positioned upon the ties of the road-bed, and securedthereon. However, when the splice is to be applied to the rail ends, thesaid ends are spaced a slight distance apart to permit of the saidsplice engaging the pockets of the rail ends, after which ,the rail endsare forced toward each other. The lips 2 providing the pockets are ofsufficient length to provide for the contraction and expansion of therail ends without permitting the splice being entirely removedtherefrom, and when the members comprising the rail joint are assembledspikes 6 are employed, the said spikes having their heads engaging withthe base flanges of the splice, and their bodies contacting with thelongitudinal edges of the base flanges of both the splice and the railends. The spikes also are employed for securing the bodies of the railsupon the ties, in the well known manner.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is In combination, apair of rail ends, each provided with an extending web and base flanges,the said rails being provided with angular projections arranged upontheir webs and base flanges and disposed at the terminals of the headsof the rails to pro vide pockets, a splice, said splice including ahead, a web and base flange, the web being centrally provided with alongitudinally extending passage which is adapted to receive theextending webs of the rail ends, and the base flanges of the spliceadapted to rest upon the base flanges of the rail end, and the oppositeends of the splice adapted to be received Within the pockets of therails.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' HARRY M. ZIRKLE.

Witnesses:

THOMAS B. OWEN, B. F. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

